Spotlight on DEI in Lower School Classrooms: November 2021
Exploring and celebrating peoples' unique differences helps our youngest students learn about their own identities. Students learn to respect and appreciate differences and that they bring us together as humans. Using books and hands-on activities, teachers in our youngest grades have engaged deeply in this work, embedding this kind of learning within the academic program. Read about some of the DEI learning that has been taking place in our Lower School classrooms.
In first grade, students discussed identities and what makes them similar and different. They’ve talked about how individuality is worth celebrating because it makes the class strong! Some books that have aided in these discussions have included: The Crayon Box that Talked; Same, Same but Different; and Your Name is a Song.
In third grade, students read The Colors of Us by Karen Katz prior to drawing and coloring their own self-portraits. The book served as a springboard for a celebration of the diverse skin tones within a single class of students. When coloring their own self portraits, students carefully chose skin-toned colored pencils and compared them to their own skin. They enjoyed looking to see what Crayola had named “their” color and if they needed to layer several colors to try and better match their skin tone. The activity sparked an inquisitive, positive, and organic conversation about skin tone and led to beautiful self-portraits that represent our diverse students and community.
In fourth grade, students investigated the origins of Pennsylvania and brainstormed solutions that 17th century explorers could have used to live peacefully with the Native Americans. Students studied the origin of the word “Indian” and how “Native Americans” and “Indigenous Peoples” are more appropriate terms. Students also studied William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” where he brought together people of all different religions to live harmoniously and respect each other’s differences. Some fourth graders have reflected on their own religion and religious differences within the classroom.
In fifth grade, students have been reading Home of the Brave, which tells the story of a Sudanese refugee, and discussed what people leave behind (both literally and figuratively) when confronted with war, violence, and extreme hardship. Toward the end of the novel, students will also discuss the importance of the title and the overall meaning of “belonging” in the United States. It is a deeply impactful story that taps into the fifth graders’ empathy cores!
Mrs. Posner read the book Dumplings are Delicious to students K-2. This book, which was shared with her by second-grader Jack C., is all about the variety of dumplings around the world⸺empanadas, pierogies, mandu, paranthas, etc. After the story, students talked about different family dishes and traditions that have been passed on. Several students were proud to share their backgrounds and connections and some even brought in family recipes the next day!
Shipley's Middle School Latin students took the 2022 National Latin Examination with over 100,000 students from around the world. An impressive 26 students earned Latin Award prizes and recognition for excellence. Middle School Latin students also competed in The Philadelphia Classical Society's 83rd Annual Latin Week Competition - Traditional Artistry & Literary Projects on Classical themes. A total of 55 Middle School students won Latin Awards and recognition for excellence.
The Shipley School is proud to announce the appointment of Harry Green as the School’s new Director of Track and Field. This new position will oversee all running programs. Coach Green will be Head Coach of the Varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams and the Cross Country team.
What do Coke and Pepsi have to do with statistics? The seniors in Matt Frankel’s interdisciplinary statistics class can tell you! After studying the statistical problem-solving process all year, students ran a large study with 300 subjects to see if they could differentiate between Coke and Pepsi with a greater accuracy than random guessing would provide.
Shipley Middle School science teacher Ace Schwarz has been selected to participate in its 2022 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Landmarks of American History Workshop, The Space Age on the Space Coast. "I am hoping to bring back what I learn so we can really develop the space exploration aspect of our curriculum," commented Mx. Schwarz.
Shipley’s Middle School Science Olympiad team earned an overall ninth-place finish at the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad State Tournament held at Penn State Altoona on April 30.
The Shipley School is proud to announce that after an extensive search, Eva Winiarski has been named Head Varsity Girls' Lacrosse Coach. She brings a wealth of teaching, playing, and coaching experience to Shipley, most recently as the Assistant Lacrosse Coach and Defensive Coordinator at The McDonough School in Maryland. In the classroom, Eva will join Shipley’s exceptional English Department as an Upper School teacher.
On April 24, 2022, three groups of Shipley’s Upper School students presented research at a roundtable presentation of the Student Participatory Action Research Collaboration (SPARC). “Our students were passionate, thorough, confident, and genuinely enthusiastic about their research topics,” said student advisor and Shipley’s Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Sheri Rider Jobe.
Shipley sixth-grader Jordyn Colbert '28 won first place in the 17th Annual Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest, presented by the Ardmore Free Library.
Shipley’s Middle School and Upper School Science Olympiad teams participated in the Southeast Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Tournament. Combined, the teams earned 18 medals and qualified for the State tournament.
The Shipley School’s DEI Strategic Plan goal 3 is to ensure an equitable experience for all members of the community. One initiative of that goal is to create and support affinity spaces for students, colleagues, families, and alumni. Affinity spaces speak to the efforts of not just ensuring equitable experiences, but also creating experiences that foster belonging in our community. Learn more about our efforts to create these spaces.
In 2021, the Shipley Black Alumni Association (BAA) set the goal of raising $100,000 to establish an endowed fund at Shipley to support experiences aimed at educating students about American history and culture through the lens of African-American contributions. By the end of Black History Month 2022, the results are impressive: $55,170 given by 116 donors.
Five Shipley Upper School students earned Honorable Mentions for their hard work at the Model UN event in Washington, DC and the Harvard Model Congress event in Boston, MA.
Looking for diverse texts to read for either yourself or your child(ren)? Shipley's Librarians are here to help with a heaping helping of books to satisfy your literary appetite. Get a list of recommended books for middle school, young adult, and adult books, compiled by Shipley's Library Director Liz Cousins.
Shipley's Director of Rowing, Scott Gavin-Wisniewski discusses the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the sport of rowing and how Shipley's Rowing Academy is working to counteract that. The program's strategic partnership with Philadelphia City Rowing (PCR) both informs how we advance DEI within Shipley's program, while also advancing equity in the broader Philadelphia community through our support of their efforts.
Shipley’s youngest students partner in sustainability through hands-on science lessons in the natural environment, including Shipley's decade-long partnership with the Lower Merion Conservancy, in which fifth grade students collect and analyze water samples of the local Mill Creek. Learn more about how learning comes to life in Lower School science.
Building connections with French students not only helps Shipley's middle schoolers on their path to developing language fluency, but also fulfill's the School’s mission of preparing them to become responsible global citizens by expanding their curiosity about different cultures. Learn more about the Middle School French pen pal program.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.